< The victories February 10, 1944, 20th victory o

Exemple : B-17Ex

Boeing B-17

 

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COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCES

THURSDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS :
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force) :

Mission 216 :

141 of 169 B-17s hit the industrial area at Braunschweig, Germany and 2 hit targets of opportunity ;
they claim 42-30-61 Luftwaffe aircraft ;
29 B-17s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 52 damaged ;
casualties are 2 KIA, 3 WIA and 295 MIA;

escort is provided by 64 P-38s, 357 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 45 Ninth Air Force P-51s ;
they claim 56-1-40 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 0-0-2 on the ground ;
5 P-38s and 4 P-47s are lost, 1 P-38 and 1 P-51 are damaged beyond repair and 6 P-47s are damaged ;
casualties are 1 KIA, 1 WIA and 9 MIA.

27 of 81 B-24s hit the Gilze-Rijen Airfield, The Netherlands ; dense contrails and frost prevent most aircraft from attacking ;
4 B-24s are damaged beyond repair ;
casualties are 26 KIA and 14 WIA ;

escort is provided by 91 P-47s without loss.

B-17 declared lost on February 10, 1944 (current result of my works) :
Source : book "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story" + from AFHRA microfilm

serial number

 plane type / name

squadron

 code

 reason

mission lost on

pilot / crew 

42-30062

Boeing B-17F-85-BO "Reilly's Racehorse"

100 BG 418 BS

LD-O

Fighter

Braunschweig

Crash Location Hannover
20Kms from Wunstorf 415/i13

Scoggins,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 2383

42-30173

Boeing B-17F-90-BO "All American"

95 BG 412 BS

QW-O

Near Lingen, aircraft left the formation on fire.

Braunschweig

Crash Location Steimbke
27Kms from Wunstorf 415/i12/1

Pearson,
3KIA, 7POW,
MACR 2544

42-30337

Boeing B-17F-100-BO "8 Ball - Flack Hack"

390 BG 571 BS

FC-D

?

Braunschweig

Crash Location Striepe
183Kms from Wunstorf 415/i4

Dover,
7KIA, 3POW,
MACR 2503

42-30378

Boeing B-17F-100-BO "Good Time Cholly III"

94 BG 331 BS

QE-A

Fighters

Braunschweig

Crash Location Bimolten
162Kms from Wunstorf 415/i5

Lt. A. D. Anderson, P,
Lt. A. L. Clapie, CP,
Lt. G. J. Feeley, N,
Lt. G. L. Barker, B,
T/Sgt L. A. Paxton, RO,
S/Sgt T. A. Mitchell, BT,
T/Sgt K. N. Estep, TT,
Sgt K. E. Evans, TG,
S/Sgt D. F. Kremper, RW,
S/Sgt R. B. Smith, LW,
 10POW,
MACR 2386

42-30609

Boeing B-17F-110-BO "Pistol Packin' Mama"

91BG
ou
95 BG ?

335 BS ?

OE-N

after target, and with #3 and #4 engines on fire, aircraft broke up and went down wings end over end

Braunschweig

Crash Location Wietmarschen
155Kms from Wunstorf 415/i5

Balman,
B-17F-110-BO 'Pistol Packin' Mama' Serial 42-30609
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 2542

42-31054

Boeing B-17G-1-BO "Irish Luck"

95 BG 412 BS

QW-Q

after target, and on fire, aircraft left formation under control.

Braunschweig

Crash Location Lengerich
129Kms from Wunstorf 415/i6/2

Huddleston,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 2545

42-31080

Boeing B-17G-1-BO "Hey Moitle"

94 BG 331 BS

?

Hit by fighters between I.P. and R.P.

Braunschweig

Crash Location Lauingen
93Kms from Wunstorf 418/j16

Lt. Paul A. MacWilliam, P, KIA
Lt. H. A. Tucker, CP, KIA
Lt. W. F. Shapiro, N, POW
Lt. T. C. Mooney, B, KIA
T/Sgt E. E. Lamont, RO, KIA
S/Sgt M. L. Saar, BT, POW
T/Sgt R. T. Scott, TT, KIA
S/Sgt L. A. Lamarco, TG, POW
S/Sgt C. W. Meak, RW, POW
S/Sgt B. H. Boatright, LW, POW
MACR 2371

42-31096

Boeing B-17G-1-BO "The Squirming Squaw"

447 BG 711 BS

?

Fighter

Braunschweig

Crash Location EspelKamp
54Kms from Wunstorf 415/i9

Jellison,
10POW,
MACR 2534

42-31115

Boeing B-17G-1-BO "Hell's Bells"

388 BG 562 BS

?

flak

Braunschweig

Crash Location Uitgeest (Hol)

Feeney,
4KIA 7POW,
MACR 2348

42-31167

Boeing B-17G-5-BO

447 BG 710 BS

?

Fighter

Braunschweig

Crash Location Barver
60Kms from Wunstorf 415/i9 and 20kms from Lake Dümmersee

Finfinger,
5KIA, 5POW,
MACR 2535

42-31218

Boeing B-17G-5-BO "Eto-Itis"

390 BG 571 BS

FC-E

Fighter

Braunschweig

Crash Location Baarlo (Hol)

Burke,
4EVD, 1KIA, 5POW,
MACR 2504

42-31265

Boeing B-17G-10-BO

100 BG 349 BS

?

Fighter

Braunschweig

Crash Location Hannover
20Kms from Wunstorf 415/i13

Croft,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 2382

42-31318

Boeing B-17G-10-BO

452 BG 731 BS

?

mid air coll 39961

Braunschweig

Crash Location Diepholz
75Kms from Wunstorf 415/i9 and 10kms from lake Dümmersee

Turner,
2KIA, 8POW,
MACR 2536

42-31336

Boeing B-17G-15-BO

388 BG 561 BS

?

Fighter

Francfurt

Crash Location North Sea

Tolles,
10KIA,
MACR 2347

42-31338

Boeing B-17G-15-BO

452 BG 728 BS

?

Fighter

Braunschweig

Crash Location Kemmel (Bel)

Smith,
3KIA, 7POW,
MACR 2540

42-31492

Boeing B-17G-20-BO "Discoveree"

96 BG 413 BS

?

flak

Braunschweig

Crash Location Liebenau
30Kms from Wunstorf 415/i11

Magilavy,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 2374

42-31566

Boeing B-17G-20-BO

96 BG 339 BS

?

flak

Braunschweig

Crash Location Braunschweig

Thompson,
10KIA,
MACR 2375

42-31617

Boeing B-17G-20-BO

96 BG 413 BS

?

Fighter

Braunschweig

Crash Location Emsdetten
+130Kms from Wunstorf 415/J6

Scott,
10POW,
MACR 2373

42-31658

Boeing B-17G-25-BO

95 BG 334 BS

BG-G

after target, aircraft was seen spinning toward earth.

Braunschweig

Crash Location Quackenbrück 103Kms from Wunstorf 415/H7

Kelly,
4KIA, 6POW,
MACR 2546

42-31838

Boeing B-17G-30-BO "Sack Time Charlie"

94 BG 333 BS

?

Hit by fighters at I.P.,
salvoed bombs. No chutes were reported.

Braunschweig

Crash Location Levern
66Kms from Wunstorf 415/i9

Lt. W. S. Gingold (seen as "Grengold" elsewhere), P, POW
Lt. C. A. Gunderson, CP, POW
Lt. J. A. Thornhill, N, KIA
Lt. W. M. Koch, B, POW
S/Sgt L. W. Mecklenburg, RO, POW
Sgt M. R. Willumsen, BT, KIA
Sgt A. F. Schinner, TT, POW
Sgt T. G. Dowda, TG, POW
Sgt V. E. Nelson, RW, POW
Sgt R. J. Blosmith, LW, POW
 MACR 2370

42-37826

Boeing B-17G-15-DL "No Excuse"

95 BG 335 BS

OE-O

Braunschweig

Crash Location Engden
153Kms from Wunstorf 415/i5

Cole,
3KIA, 7POW,
MACR 2543

42-37950

Boeing B-17G-20-DL "Dinah Mite"

452 BG 731 BS

?

Fighter

Francfurt

Crash Location Leuarden (Hol)

Sharpless,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 2538

42-37960

Boeing B-17G-20-DL "Delta Girl"

452 BG 728 BS

?

Fighter

Braunschweig

Crash Location ?Dankem? (Ger?)

Noell,
3KIA, 7POW,
MACR 2539

42-37971

Boeing B-17G-20-DL

95 BG 335 BS

OE-W

after target, and with #1 engine on fire, aircraft left formation under control.

Braunschweig

Crash Location Rheine
135Kms from Wunstorf 415/j6

Tuberose,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 2526

42-38107

Boeing B-17G-30-DL

94 BG 331 BS

?

Fighters

Braunschweig

Crash Location Gross Hehlen
50Kms from Wunstorf 415/i14 but NE from Hannover

Lt. A. J. Repas, P,
Lt. E. M. Stanton, CP,
Lt. H. L. D. Coffer, N,
Lt. T. L. Burr, B,
T/Sgt D. Labelle, RO,
S/Sgt D. McCormick, BT,
T/Sgt P. Chirico, TT,
S/Sgt E. P. Cassel, TG,
S/Sgt C. L. Watkins, RW,
S/Sgt C. W. Rice, LW,
 10POW,
MACR 2372

42-39804

Boeing B-17G-1-VE "Bad Penny"

388 BG 561 BS

?

Fighter

Braunschweig

Crash Location ?Nordlehne?
or Nordel ?
45Kms from Wunstorf 415/i10

Evans,
7KIA, 3POW,
MACR 2346

42-39961

Boeing B-17G-10-VE

452 BG 730 BS

?

mid air coll 31318

Braunschweig

Crash Location ?Hemsloher? (Ger?)

Triska,
7KIA, 3POW,
MACR 2537

42-39984

Boeing B-17G-10-VE

94 BG 331 BS

?

Hit by fighters just prior to I.P.

Braunschweig

Crash Location Liebenau
30Kms from Wunstorf 415/i11

Lt. F. E. Barker, P, POW
Lt. J. Limber, CP, KIA
Lt. H. R. Miller, N, POW
Lt. P. G. Rutledge, B, POW
Sgt C. A. Anderau, RO, KIA
Sgt W. Cornelison, BT, KIA
Sgt W. W. Wells, TT, POW
Sgt J. P. Cardinal, TG, POW
Sgt C. A. Loholdt, RW, KIA
Sgt W. W. Stewart, LW, POW
 MACR 2369

42-97447

Boeing B-17G-15-VE

95 BG 334 BS

BG-E

leaving target under fighter attack, aircraft turned over and spun down to earth.

Braunschweig

Crash Location Brandlecht
156Kms from Wunstorf 415/i5

Wilson,
7KIA, 3POW,
MACR 2547

Having taken off at 10.38 KNOKE shot down one B-17 at 11.20 and he land on Wunstorf at 11.41. He land on the airfield 20 minutes only after the victory. Geographic location was measured with regard to Wunstorf.

* - - - Special Thanks to Helynn Schufletowski for 95 BG datas - - - *
* - - - Special Thanks to Louis Hopkins for help on 94 BG - - - *

Source : Roger A. Freeman 8-th USAAF recognizes loss of 30 B-17 on February 10, 1944

Source: Book " Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11 Tail 2 1944 " Jochen Prien and Peter Rodeike 29 B-17 were claimed on February 10, 1944 by the JG 1 ( 12 ) and JG 11 ( 17 ). On the whole the OKW booked for this day 50 approved four-engined planes.

To cross my sources of information my searches were made separately : the obtained lists are identical in both cases and are enumerated below:

1/ in the book " The B-17 Flying Fortress Story " I pointed 29 B-17 of the 8th USAAF

2 / in a computer file of the MACR I found 29 B-17 of the 8th USAAF.

3/ the report of the mission #216 gives lost 29 B-17.

The table of losses above giving 29 B-17 is complete.

Description of this victory by Heinz Knoke and different information :
 

Heinz Knoke Informations

Personal comments

 Source

 I flew for the f... page 139
  

 Date

 Februar 10 , 1944
  

Type of claimed plane

 B-17 Flight Fortress
  

 Place of the interception

Beginning of attack over Lake Dümmersee at 25000 feet  

 Crash Location

 

Between Lake Dümmersee and Wunstorf (20 minutes from Wunstorf with a Me 109)

Presumed Mission USAAF

 "The target obviously is Berlin."
In fact Braunschweig

Presumed route USAAF  

 Rheine, Lake Dümmersee, heading East > Berlin
In fact Braunschweig

 Schedule

Alert : enemy concentration in map reference sector Dora Dora
Take-off from Wunstorf : 10.38
Landing at Wunstorf : 11.41
Victory : 11.20

 Weather report

 

Knoke's Unit

 
II./JG11 5./JG11
 40 Bf 109G of II./JG11
Specht was ill and Knoke was temporarily at command of formation.

 Description of the fight

 "...and then come round for a second frontal attack. With my forty Messerschmitts in a tight Vic-formation I want to cut a swath through the ranks of the enemy...
... Raddatz holds his plane flying almost wing-tip to wing-tip alongside mine... ...Just as I am seeking out my opponent and adjusting the sight on him, there is a bright flash from the aircraft next to mine. raddatz immediately plummets down vertically. i cannot follow him down, because I am too busy firing now.
I continue closing upon my Fortress, firing at the control cabin in the nose, until I have to pull up sharply in order to avoid a head-on collision.
My salvo has registered..."







Pilotes probably killed or wounded.

 Detail 1

"...The Fortress rears up on its tail. ...Then the left wing drops, and the huge plane goes down out of control in its final death-dive, to disintegrate some, 5000 or 10 000 feet below."

A sure victory.

Detail 2

"...At 11.41 I again land at Wunstorf. There I learn that Raddatz is dead.
Crash location of Raddatz's Me 109 is probably near Knoke's B-17 crash location.
Detail 3
" More than ten other Fortress are shot down."

 Detail 4

 
Knoke didn't mention parachutes.
Probably few survivor.
Detail 5
"I've never seen before such a mighty air armada... ...Including the fighter escort the total American strength I estimate at 1200."
In fact 635 planes.
Detail 6
 "Eventually I dive into a group of Fortress from the rear and fire at one of them. Before I have a chance to observe the result of my salvo, I'm again set upon by a pair of Thunderbolts. Both have distinctive checkerboard black-and-white markings on the engine cowling."
One B-17 damaged.

Unit of P-47s ?

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